A TRAIN manager was fired for a terrorism security breach when his girlfriend sold his official Virgin Trains uniform on internet auction site E-bay.

James Peskett worked as a £25,000-a-year manager for Virgin Trains in Liverpool as part of their West Coast Main Line service to London.

But an investigation was launched after his superiors discovered items of brand new company uniform on offer during a routine trawl through the internet.

Two jackets, trousers, a name-badge and a tie were being offered for sale on the auction site as the "latest and authentic uniform". Virgin launched an inquiry fearing the items could be stolen and might fall into the hands of terrorists intending to hijack a train.

Investigators posed as would-be buyers and traced the uniform to Mr Peskett, 35, from Mossley Hill, south Liverpool who was sacked for gross misconduct.

The train manager denied any wrong-doing and claimed his partner did it without his knowledge after a spring clean.

Virgin customer services manager Karen Grimshaw told a Liverpool employment tribunal the firm had no choice but to dismiss Mr Peskett for a blatant security breach.

She said: "These were not small, insignificant items. They were heavy jackets, name badges and ties. They had never been worn and still had their labels on.

"An official train manager like Mr Peskett walks the entire length of the train and can also gain access to the driver's cabin.

"Selling official uniform to strangers therefore has extremely serious implications in the light of widespread terror alerts.

"Mr Peskett says the person responsible for selling the uniform on E-bay was his partner, Joanne Douglas.

"He has denied any knowledge of the incident throughout our investigations.

"But by selling these items on the internet he has not only posed a serious security breach but also stolen company property."

Mr Peskett said he had no idea his spare uniform was up for sale to the highest bidder.

He said: "I love my job. I worked hard getting into it 12 years ago and I had even received commendations for my work.

"I know uniform standards are highly regarded in the Virgin company. I accept that there was a high security breach due to those items being sold.

"But I was not aware of what my partner was doing - and she never realised how serious the implications were of selling the uniform on E-bay.

"She would sell anything on the internet including the children's clothes.

"I was in no shape or form responsible for the E-bay accounts and I never received any money for the sale.